courtesy   :  masterclass

How to Start a Rooftop Garden in 7 Steps

Weather conditions of roofs can vary widely. Some roofs get full sun while neighboring buildings shade others; some roofs can reach temperatures up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit, while others experience high winds. When selecting plants for your rooftop container garden, consider the weather conditions of your roof and choose your plants accordingly. Here are a few types of plants that may thrive on your rooftop:

1. Drought-tolerant plants: Many rooftop gardens exposed to sunny and windy conditions require deep, consistent watering to help the plants thrive. If you don’t have the interest in or ability to install a drip system or rain barrel cistern, you may get tired of hauling a watering can to your roof to water the plants daily. Planting drought-tolerant plants can help make your rooftop garden low maintenance and easier to manage—consider plants like desert succulents like the snow rose, sage, butterfly weeds, and evergreen trees and shrubs.
2. Shade-tolerant plants: If neighboring buildings or trees shade your roof for much of the day, shade-tolerant plants are a great option. Some popular partial-sun plants include hostas and lettuces.
3. Sun-loving plants: Many roofs experience full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day), so sun-loving plants are the most logical option. If your roof gets a lot of sun, consider full-sun plants like tomato plants and strawberries, small trees like Japanese maple trees, and flowers like marigolds, wildflowers, and coneflowers.
4. Wind-tolerant plants: Many roofs experience higher wind conditions than ground-level gardens because there aren’t other buildings or trees blocking the wind. If your roof gets a lot of wind, consider low-to-the-ground shrubs and groundcovers like ornamental grasses, hydrangeas, and honeysuckle bushes.

Rooftop gardens have many advantages:

• Great for limited spaces: One of the main advantages of a rooftop garden is that it allows people to keep outdoor plants at home regardless of their backyard situation. Rooftop gardens are a popular urban garden choice for people who live in apartments and condos.
• Higher chances for sunlight: Rooftops gardens are more likely to receive full sun than on-the-ground gardens or houseplants since they are typically not shaded by trees or other buildings. This ample sunlight allows gardeners to select from a wider range of plants, including vegetable plants and sun-loving flowers.
• Pest-resistant: Many on-the-ground gardens can be targets for weeds and local wildlife like deer and rabbits, making growing certain plants difficult. Rooftop gardens grow plants out of reach of those animals and many weeds, limiting the kinds of pests that can affect their growth and reducing the need for weeding.
• Visual appeal: Rooftop gardens are a great way to add visual interest to roof space, turning a flat area into a more pleasant outdoor space with greenery for relaxing or entertaining. You can also add decking, a fire pit, a pergola, or decorative chairs to further beautify your rooftop garden design.

Rooftop gardens also have a few disadvantages:

• Water difficulties: The biggest disadvantage of rooftop gardening is creating a sustainable watering system. Rooftop gardens are typically extra thirsty (due to high sun and winds) but are more difficult to water than other gardens because they’re farther from spigots and water lines and require a little more engineering to set up drip irrigation systems or a cistern.
• Adverse weather conditions: Rooftop gardens face more inclement weather conditions than other gardens, especially high winds and hot temperatures, so it’s important to get especially hardy plants for roofs that regularly experience adverse weather.
• Limited to containers: Rooftop gardens need to be in containers or raised garden beds since they’re up off the ground, which can limit the variety of plants gardeners can use. Container gardens can come at a higher cost than planting straight into the ground.
• Weight restrictions: Roofs can only handle a limited amount of extra weight. When planning a rooftop garden, you’ll want to ensure that your roof can handle the weight of the containers, soil, and water cistern, if you plan to install one.